The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-26
WHAT PUBLIC MEN DRINK.
An Old Bartender's Experience with Guests
Big Hotel.

New York Tribune
The stocky man with shortcroppes but oushy
gray whiskers, who stood behind the Fifth
avenue Hotel bar for fifteen years, has rscently
been missed by guests of that house. His name
is Francis Moore. He is Vermonter, and has
good stock farm in that State. Recently he
desired to start in business for himself IN
Twenty-third street. In his long experience at
the Fifth-avenue Hotel he has dealt out liquid
rations for many of the noted men OF the coun-
try. he told Tribune reporter about some or
their peculiarities yesterday, saying among
other things:
BILLY Florence, the actor, drinks straight
whisky. Len Smith Is another of the same
kind. | always set out the best when see
them coming General Arthur drank gin straight
when he felt the need of a little srmulant.
General Grant used to come in occasionally in
his last years and drink bottle of BASES ale at
the bar Gen. W. T. Sherman has stuck to ons
brand of whisky SO long that others have come
to ask for 1t as Sherman whisky. He drinks
good big drink, but not often Gen. Phil Sheri-
dan takes square drink of the same beverage,
and has use for water. He takes NIP often
er than Sherman. Senator Frank Hiscock likes
wine. but takes three fingers of whisky when he
tackles that liquor. His favorite wine is Veuve
Chquot, yellow label Congressman Geo. West
has steady English pull at BASIS ale Elk
Congressman Henry G. Bureigh's order is al
ways a little sherry but it comes quite often.
His partner. Gus Cooke. takes the whisky for
the firm. Cooke likes to mix ham and beans
between the drinks.
Though James G. Blaine stopped at the hotel
never saw him at the bar. General Garfield
never came to the bar, either Ex-senator
Chatfee, of Colorado, drank whisky and Poland
water, which he thought was good for his kid
neys His friend, Dave Moffa.t president of
the Denver & Rio Grande road drinks whisky
straight: Senator German carie in rarely for
rye William h. Barnnm takes gin steadily.
and lots of it The glasses are not big enough
for him. William L. Scott. of Erie, asks for "a
little gin fzz-very light When President
Cleveland was a guest Of the hotel
we sent, up brandy to his room.the
best in the house When Roscoe Conkling
boarded here his beverage was lemonade. |
never saw him take anything stronger. Presi-
dent Hayes wouldn't drink lemonade for fear
1t might have been stirred with a spoon that had
ton was light drinker. with liking for light
wine and champagne. Steve Dorsey used to
drink whisky in the days when he ran Repub-
| lican national politics, but brandy suits him
now. peculiar drinker is Uncle John Rice.
| the proprietor of the fremont House. Chicago,
| who has a taste for 'velvet-half champagne
! and half porter.
sheridan Shook likes straight gin, and has
drunk enough to fioasa steamboat. 1t agrees
| with him. Ed Gilmore is one of his pupils
| Uncle Rufus Hatch takes about one finger of
| whisky. Senator John Sherman is light man
4 on liquor. He takes bit of whisky rarely.
/ Gen. George A. Sheridan. of Louisiana, sizes up
| slightly above finger when the whisky is good.
| The one thing he will not touch is Mexican
| 'pulque.' Bob Ingersolls favorite Is beer.
| Lawrence Barrett is great drinker of whisky.
| That is also Edwin Booths beverage. Guiteau,
| the assassin, was around the bar during the
| campaign of 1880. He only drank when he was
| asked, and then flied up Cd rye. General Han
| cock took whisky; but, above all things, he liked
| bottle of champagne. Hubert O. Thompson
was good trea:er and took whisky. Zach Chan
dler was a drinker of drinkers. He began early
in the dav, and kept it up till he went to bod
| whisky always"